Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Mick still throws up surprises
MICHAEL O’NEILL is dragging Stoke City up the Championship table not so much ‘inch by inch’ - but throw-in by throw-in.
The former Northern Ireland boss is plotting the Potters’ escape from danger at the foot of the division by zeroing in on their handiwork.
O’Neill said: “I have looked at throw-ins, very particularly retaining possession from them.
“In themselves they are small things, but if you improve in those areas then they can add up to big improvements in your team.
“If you look at it from a statistics point of view, you will get a throw-in somewhere between
20-25 times.
“So there are 25 occasions when you either keep possession - or you lose it. There could be an extra 100 passes that you have in a game if you retain possession.
“And if you can exploit teams on their defensive throw-ins, it gives you an opportunity to go and press them. For example, we were not happy about the other week when we played Millwall. Their only chance of the entire 90 minutes came from our throw-in.
“When we played Huddersfield, their free-kick for the second goal they scored came from our throw.
“Now, if you can improve in those areas...”
He added: “It was something we worked upon at international level. Against the better teams you just can’t squander the ball. And it is easier to win the ball back from them off a throw-in than in open play.
“I know for instance that Manchester City have had someone in to coach throw-ins.
“The ball is in play 57 to 60 minutes in an game. So the rest of the time is throw-ins, free-kicks and goal-kicks.
“That’s one-third of the game – and there’s a few quick wins to be had in there.”